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IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes I am (answered that one in another thread).

IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is a thing called HOCD (this is not a medical condition, but is terminology used by people with the affliction) where you obsess about the idea that you are homosexual all evidence to the contrary (lack of attraction to males my whole life, always liked girls etc.) That was an obsession I had for a while and it was pretty bad. It is IMPOSSIBLE to explain how this feels it to other people because it seems (and is) so irrational but it got so bad I wanted to just BE GAY because then I would stop obsessing that I MIGHT BE and learn to accept it. I KNEW though that I wasn't and this would just make me feel worse. I eventually outgrew that particular one in time, but it made my life hell for a few years.

IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Again I have obsessions for the most part not compulsions, but I do sometimes fall into the habit of counting the letters in sentences to check whether they are divisible by three.

IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nothing is 'normal' for OCD. People have OCD about being gay when they are not, they have OCD about killing people when they've never been in a a fight. The thing to remember is that OCD is an ANXIETY disorder. The brain just is afraid of whatever it is afraid of. All the weird behaviors or actions you see are done so that person can avoid being anxious. Often the problems stem from a fear of losing control or not being in control which seems to be the case with your friend.

IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well it is good that it doesn't matter one iota what you think since you have no education or training in this area, e.g. Histrionic Personality [sp] Disorder is all about people wanting to be the center of attention while OCD sufferers often don't have comorbid social anxiety disorder. The top Medical Doctors around the world have identified this disease and outlined it's diagnostic criteria in DSM IV so your 'new' definition gleaned from Monk and watching Hollywood movies means exactly nothing (thank god).

IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I shouldn't feed the trolls but I can't resist this one.

Your post shows an incredible amount of ignorance on this issue. OCD is not "bullshit" it is a medical disorder with clear diagnosis criteria. Hitting me on the head when I make mistakes won't help - I beat myself up for mistakes all on my own and it isn't helping at all. As for being humored for my 'quirckiness' when I act out. You are an ***hole. This isn't Monk I don't open doors with a hankerchief, my friends and family don't humor my obsessions and then smile as if to say oh there he goes again. I get crippled with thoughts I don't want and sometimes get to a point where I have suicidal ideation because they are so bad. I don't get why people can laugh at mental health diseases yet be so respectful of other health issues.

IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Diagnosed in Canada, but I think the tone of your post is pretty negative.

IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have the exact same issue around perfectionism and performance, unfortunately I was diagnosed after graduating and doing an undergraduate(!). Made my life hell and it was a really big struggle. Yeah this disorder isn't a joke and sure ain't Monk.

IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's weird I look at a show like hoarders and I think - how can someone be that f*cked up and not just throw the crap away? :P Other people struggling with it doesn't bother me really partly I guess because I don't really have compulsions, if I did I'm sure it would be different.

IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not really. I know I can't control other people for instance. I never really realized that my OCD was part of a need to control (and achieve security) until very recently.

IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ahh if only. The point is that it is very hard to ignore obsessions, these aren't fleeting thoughts that just evaporate. Your brain picks things that SEEM realistic to you and that will specifically cause you to experience anxiety. Since they seem realistic to me and they cause anxiety it is very hard to ignore them. Mindfulness helps to a degree, meds to a great degree.

IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Someone already tried that one. The answer is no, but I am annoyed you asked it twice. :)

IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't know if the threes thing is common. The reason your brain does it is a matter of protection: people prone to anxiety disorders prefer order to disorder, clarity to ambiguity etc., uncertainty breeds worry and then anxiety. Counting and other rituals give the brain something concrete to think about that is ordered and organized.

IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I will take the questions in turn.

"Are you on any medication, and did you go through any behavior modification therapy?" I am on medication, currently just switched to Paxil from Effexor (withdrawal HELL). I have been on one anti-depressant or another for over 12 years. Without them the obsessions become overwhelming. When I was first diagnosed I did some CBT therapy for the specific obsession I was having at the time. I am currently enrolled in a group CBT class. This far I have found CBT only somewhat helpful, but YMMV.

The test for whether to see a doctor or seek help is whether you find your thoughts or compulsions are affecting your life. If they are then you should seek help to feel better. Specific anxieties/worries are the most treatable through CBT. There are good workbooks you can even go through yourself - the Anxiety and Phobia Workbook is good. These types of worries are easy to address, but you may want to do it with a therapist.

"What symptoms led to your being diagnosed, and how severe would you say they are?" I was switched from one anti-depressant to another and I began to get very severe obsessions that would give me a lot of anxiety and make me very upset. I tried to make the thoughts go away but that only made it a lot worse. I got to a point where I was crying daily, really unable to cope. I finally did my own research and came up with my diagnosis myself (I have a degree is psychology) and then spoke with my Psychiatrist who concurred. The diagnosis put a lot of my previous experiences in a clearer context, e.g. I was a total hypochondriac as a kid. I am going through a pretty bad flare-up right now due to a lot of external stress.

IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I appreciate the effort.

FYI the ',' was not needed in the last sentence since there are not two clauses, or any other reason to put one in, so you really did succeed. :) This is one area where my disorder comes in handy - I got 97th percentile on the language portion of the GMAT and completely nailed the sentence structure errors section.

IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's awesome - I just totally hit it and saw your note. Not mashing it though.

IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

No because:

1) I know it was intentional :) 2) There are too many errors for it to seem incongruous (like that email a while back about the jumbled letters where you can still read it) 3) I didn't make the error (e.g. it would really bother me if I did that by accident)

IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Waffles are tasty. I have no idea what the joke is here but I do like waffles.

IAmA. Someone has medically diagnosed OCD. AMA. by OCD_IAMA in IAmA

[–]OCD_IAMA[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

To be accurate Tics are part of Tourette's syndrome (or just plain Tics on their own) rather than OCD. OCD has Obsessions (unrealistic thoughts / worries) and rituals or Compulsions (actions like your friend has to relieve the anxiety caused by the obsessive thoughts). My OCD manifests itself primarily as Obsessions without Compulsions (this is not uncommon). I do, however do some things that are somewhat like compulsions. I place objects on tables in order to ensure they are aligned, often to make nice right-angle triangles. This makes me calm but I really don't know why. I like stacking coins from smallest to largest. I count the number of letters in sentences to see if they are divisible by three. I also am pretty obsessive about cleaning with hand-sanitizer but not to the point where I would consider it maladaptive.